Carpet-stretcher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '1.

- (J. H. HURLBUT.

CARPET STRETGHER.

Patented July 21, 1891.

C. H. HURLBUT.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

CARPET STRETCHER.

Patentgd July 21, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HENRY HURLBUT, OF NORTH AMHERST, OHIO.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,491, dated July 21, 1891.

Application filed March 4, 1890. Serial No- S42,672- (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES HENRY HURL- BUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Amherst, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oarpet-Stretchers; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relatesto improvements in carpet-stretchers; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved carpetstre'teher in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, showing the manner of operating the device to stretch a carpet. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the manner of engaging the cross-head in the carpet. Fig. 4. is an end view, with the stationary rack-bar in section.

Incarrying out my invention'l employ a stationary rackbar A, which is provided at one end with the securing-point 13, adapted to be driven into the floor, and has a seriesot rack-teeth O in its upperedge, as shown. The lower edge of the rack-bar rests in a longitudinal groove D in the upper side of the stretching-bar E, and the rack-bar is provided on its sides with the longitudinal ribs G, which rest upon the upper side of the stretching-bar and engage transverse grooves in the inner faces of the brackets II, which are secured to the end of the stretching-bar.

To the under side of the stretching-bar, and at the end of the same, I secure a supporting-plate I, and to the front edge of the said supporting-plate I pivot the cross-head J, by means of a pivotpin passed through eyes at the front edge of the said plate and similar eyes projecting from the cross-head. The cross-head can thus be turned downward, as shown in Fig. 3, so that its L- shaped teeth or hooks K may be engaged in the carpet. The cross-head is held in its raised position, when the device is in use, by

means of a latch L, which is pivoted between the brackets H and engages a bail M, secured "its operation.

to the cross-head and projecting upward and rearward therefrom.

The operating-lever N is fulcrumed upon the stretching-bar and has a pawl O pivotally secured to its lower end, said pawl engaging the teeth Got the rack-bar. A detent or gravity pawl P is pivoted between the brackets II, and also engages the said rackteeth.

The construction and arrangement of the several partsof the device being thus made known, the operation of the same will, it is thought, be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The securingpoint B is driven into the Iioor adjacent to the wall or at a distance from the edge of the carpet. The cross-head is then manipulated, as shown in Fig. 3, to engage the hooks or teeth with the carpet, after which the lever is thrown downward toward the rack-bar.

This motion of the leverbrings the pawl into engagement with the rack-bar, and the end of the pawl at the point where it engages the rack-bar is thus made to serve as a fulcrum, so that the lower end of the lever will be thrown toward the securing-point and the stretching-bar moved in the same direction, so that the carpet will be easily and positively stretched. The detent or gravity pawl l prevents retrograde movement of the stretching-bar under the tension of the carpet, as any backward movement of the stretchingbar brings the said detent into engagement with one of the teeth of the rack-bar, and consequently checks such backward movement. After the carpet has been stretched the latch L is disengaged from the bail M, thereby permitting the cross-head to be turned downward, so as to be easily disengaged from the carpet without tearing the same.

My improved carpet-stretcher is extremely simple in its construction and is efficient in By pivoting the cross-head to the stretcher-bar and securing it in the manner shown and described, lam enabled to use L-shaped teeth or hooks, so that a direct pull is exerted on the carpet and the teeth or hooks effectually engaged in and removed from the carpet without injuring it. This The combination of the stretching-bar E,

having the longitudinal groove D in its upper side, the brackets H, secured to the forward end of the stretcher-bar and provided with the longitudinal grooves in their inner faces, the cross-head J, hinged to the front end of the stretcher-bar and provided with the series of teeth, which are curved so that their points will not catch in the carpet when the cross-head stands in its normal horizontal position, and having the bail M, the pivoted latch L, the rack-bar having its lower edge fitting and sliding in the groove D in the stretching-bar and formed with the longitudinal side ribs G, engaging the grooves in the brackets H, the detent pivoted between the said brackets and engaging the rack-bar, and the operating-lever pivoted to the stretching-bar and carrying the pawl engaging the rack-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HENRY HURL BUT.

\Vitnesses:

J. R. MILLER, C. E. HURLBUT. 

